Wednesday, January 27, 2016

My Crafting Buddy

Kennedy saw a card I had made recently and wanted to duplicate it to send to her sister.

My card is on the left. What Kennedy colored (with my Copic Markers) is on the right. I was blow away at how well she colored!

I just love this stamp designed by Phyllis Harris and sold by Unity Stamp Company. I have made a card using this image a few months back. I fussy cut the image after coloring with Copic Markers. I also cut out the butterfly. We didn't do that on Kennedy's. I used foam tape on the butterfly and the girl to give some dimension. I sent my card to a friend who I had received a card from. She was picking out one card from the cards she received at Christmas and praying for the families each week. What a great idea! And how thoughtful to let me know! So that provoked me to send a "thank you" card in return.

I made this card for a recent birthday. The white background I used an embossing folder. The sentiment and candles were two separate stamps. This card was for someone who just turned 40. I was pleased with the results.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Colorful Sky Both Directions

Is it just me or do there seem to be more beautiful sunsets in the winter months? January 20th was especially fun as it was pretty looking both directions. Not only was the sunset beautiful but so was the rising of the moon looking to the East.















Looking to the Southwest.












I always find it interesting that there is color in the sky opposite the sunset. I thought it was neat how the color peeked through the bare trees with the moon just above.









































One last look at the moon.




Have a good one!












Saturday, January 23, 2016

Korin on a trampoline




Playing on the trampoline makes for some crazy hair! Korin will be 16 months old January 26th.













She is something else!


Have a good one!





Friday, January 22, 2016

A Different View

I don't always do a good job of it but every once in a while I try take pictures from a different perspective. This was one of those times. I was feeding horses as the sun was setting and the golden light on Diamond's whiskers caught my attention.







There wasn't a lot of color in the sky but what there was it was still pretty.




















Have a good one!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

A Little Hike

Last Wednesday January 13th was a beautiful day. I decided I would take a little hike at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. I was given a pass for Christmas and I hope to utilize it by going as much as I can. It is a great park and very diverse. I usually ride horses but I can't take pictures with my big camera from a horse.

I decide to take a trail I hadn't been on before that was on the other side of the lake where the cabins are located.

I pulled up to park and saw something on one of the grills. I realized it  was a either a Black or Turkey Vulture sunbathing!


He spied me.  It wasn't long before he was uncomfortable and flew away.










I began my hike. The terrain was rough at times but I had a great time. With all the rocks, I was really glad it was in the middle of winter!

















Me and my shadow. My backpack camera bag makes me look "hunched backed"!




























I came upon some birds. There were several of them. It was hard to photograph them at first. They keep fluttering from tree limb to tree limb. I couldn't really tell what they were until I got home and put the pictures on the computer. These are Cedar Waxwings. I do not recall ever having seen them before this year. Oddly enough a friend of mine had recently posted some pictures she had taken.




Even with my zoom lens this was as close as I could get. You can enlarge these pictures by clicking on them and you will be able to see them better. They look like they are wearing masks.

I was excited to get a couple of pictures of a bird I had not ever photographed before. My birdie friends I give calendars to will appreciate it!








The trail then took me along the edge of the lake. It is so nice to see it full again!

















































On the way back. Not all the trail was rocky.

















It was a great afternoon!



Have a good one!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Boys Drive Pink Cars

This jeep has been a good investment. Keannon and Vanessa bought it for Remi and Kennedy the year that Remi turned 3 and Kennedy 2. Kennedy still gets in it although she is almost too tall and drives Korin around and sometimes Kashton too. He isn't very good at steering just yet but I managed to get this quick clip of he and Korin together on Tuesday, January 12th. Korin loves to ride in the jeep! I love Kashton's laugh at the end!


Have a good one!

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Shiny New Year Challenge

Cards in Envy's first of the year card challenge theme is "Shiny New Year". We could either make a New Year card or it could be "shiny". I went with the latter.

I laid this card down to photograph as the shine didn't show with it standing upright.

I used a gold paper as a mat for the background. I created the polka dot background paper by using a background stamp and Versa Mark ink
then heat embossed with gold powder. I did the same with the sentiment "loved" which is a Unity stamp. I then used a Stampin Up heart punch. I put foam tape behind the heart to give it some dimension. I was very pleased with how this card turned out!















I was really bummed when I realized I missed the last challenge of 2015! The Theme was "Let it Snow!" I had a card made and forgot to upload it until after the challenge! Oh well. At least I made a card. I was proud of it too!

I actually made it with Remi in mind. She loves penguins and it snowed here 2 days after she went home. I thought I would tell her about it and send a picture.

The snow flakes were stamped and heat embossed with silver. The snowy hills and penguin are a Unity stamp set. I heat embossed the hills and penguin using black powder. I colored the fence and penguin with my Copic Markers. I used a Versa Mark pen to add white embossing powder to the penguin's tummy and face. I put foam tape behind the penguin to add some dimension. I used a "snow marker" to create the snowy hills. It is a liquid that when heated puffs up giving it the effect of real snow. The sentiment was part of the stamp set. I heat embossed that as well with black powder.





Monday, January 11, 2016

And Another Year Ensues

The "New Year" weekend was a blur for me. I had a friend and mentor change her address to heaven
2 days before Christmas. She had dealt with Multiple Sclerosis for several years. She was 61. I knew her for 25 years so I remember her before the MS days. Her body was donated to science to help with research for MS. The family had her memorial service Saturday January 2nd.

In lieu of a book, an 8x10 picture on a 16x20 mat was created for people to sign. I was asked to use my crafting skills to help it not be so plan. I happened to have some stuff I thought would work (imagine that!). I had some inspirational paper that worked really well. With some input from another friend I printed 2 of her favorite scriptures on cardstock and matted with gold paper and placed with the picture. I think it turned out pretty well!





 Two of the signing mats were created. One for her husband and the other for her parents.









On a happier note, I was surprised with a visit from a scrapping friend who had moved to Kentucky 4 years ago. She is the one who was also a secretary to a pastor and invited me to join the scrapbook retreat in Canton called "Revival at Ragle's Retreat". She had text me on Sunday morning Jan 3rd to confirm the time of our church services. She and her family had just moved back to Texas and they wanted to come visit. My friend Teresa and I went to lunch with them afterward. We enjoyed catching up and are so looking forward to having her at retreats again!


On January 7th, I spent some time with the Kennedy and Kashton jumping on the trampoline. Korin isn't big enough to jump with us but we let her join for a little bit and I got this quick picture of us all laying on the trampoline.






One happy little girl! It wasn't always like this though. She got this swing for her birthday and the first few times she was in it she did not like it at all! I just love the sound she's making!

Have a good one!


Saturday, January 9, 2016

Last of the Christmas Cards

This post will conclude the cards that I made for Christmas.

This card was just fun to make. Using a Stampin Up framelits diecut I made these ornaments out of glitter paper. The bow and string were made using another brand of wafer diecut.















The image and sentiment on this card are from a Stampin Up set. I inked with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with gold powder.















I just love this stamp. It is a Phyllis Harrison design called "Unto Us" and sold by Unity Stamp Co. I have colored the image in the past but for time sake decided to use Versa Mark ink and heat emboss with white powder. I really liked how it turned out!






This is a card I made and sent to Remi before she came for Christmas.

This is also a Phyllis Harris design and sold by Unity Stamp Co. called Christmas Surprise. I colored the image with my Copic Markers then cut out and used foam tape to give dimension. For some interest I used liquid pearls on the the fur of the Santa hat and glossy accents on the ribbon of the box.













I love this stamp set too! This is a Unity Stamp called "Lying in a Manger". I heat embossed this card using white and gold embossing powder.








I recently bought this stamp and it is quickly becoming a favorite! It is Arianna Girl by Unity Stamp Co. I used an embossing folder to create the textured background. I used gold embossing powder to heat emboss the outline of the angel.




I had a lot of fun making Christmas cards. I may make a few more to replenish my stash.


Have a good one!










Friday, January 8, 2016

More Christmas Cards

Here are some more Christmas cards that I made. I am wishing I had put the sentiment on plain paper as the words get lost in the holly leaves. The sentiment was heat embossed using gold and red embossing powders. The sentiment is from Stampin Up.
















I used scraps of Christmas paper on all these cards and was on a roll with heat embossing!


I wasn't very pleased with this card. I didn't think the design through very good. To me the star words and word "Joy" seem just "stuck on the card".














The sentiment on this card is a stamp from Stampin Up that I heat embossed with green embossing powder.


















Another Stamp Up set using gold embossing powder.

















This sentiment is also a Stampin Up set.










The word "Joy" is a Tim Holtz diecut. I used the diecut on the holly paper then used the diecut on silver glitter paper and paper pieced the word "joy".
















This is a Unity stamp. I inked with Versa Mark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.



I have a few more to share but I'll save those for another post.


Have a good one!













Thursday, January 7, 2016

Yes I Have Done Some Crafting

I really have done some crafting over the holidays. I made enough Christmas cards that Mother and I both sent out handmade cards. Some of you reading this were recipients of those cards.

This card was one of the first I made. I used scraps for this. This is a Unity stamp using Versa Mark ink and embossed with white powder. The white background was embossed using a Stampin Up embossing folder. I loved how it turned out.

I didn't mass produce any cards. At the most I made 4 or each design.

I had so much fun making this one. I used a Stampin Up embossing folder to create the background on this one but I took it a step farther and inked the poinsettia leaves and then with a red marker colored the berries. The sentiment is stamped with Versa Mark ink and embossed with red embossing powder.














This is a Stampin Up set. I inked with Versa Mark and used gold embossing powder for this elegant image and matted with gold paper.
















I changed it up just a bit but it's basically the same card.


















This one was fun to make too! The red stars I created using an embossing folder. The Star is a Stampin Up set. I used Versa Mark ink and white embossing powder. I then embossed with gold the word "Joy".















This paper was just too cute to do anything else to!


















This card I made using a cut out. I have a Christmas tree diecut and I used the tree as a tag for a gift. I kept this part. I had a Stampin Up set that the words were in a shape of a tree. So I embossed the words in gold on green paper. It wasn't quite the same shape but I thought it worked.













I decided to do one in silver to see which one I liked better. I prefer the gold one.

I have more to share. Stay tuned!


Have a good one!